{
  "id": 16637609,
  "title": "Zuma-Sambudla defence questions investigating officer",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/26/zuma-sambudla-defence-questions-investigating-officer",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-26T17:46:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SABC News",
    "slug": "sabc-news",
    "url": "https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/zuma-sambudla-defence-questions-investigating-officer/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Advocate Dali Mpofu, representing Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla in her unrest-related trial at Durban High Court, questioned the investigating officer, Bheki Nazo, about his belief that the client was conspiring to incite rioting and looting. Mpofu admitted to mistakenly stating that he held this belief in his court statement on July 15, 2021, and accepted the error. Mpofu also probed Nazo regarding Nazo's knowledge of the complaintant, Sarah-Jane Trent, who worked for private investigator Paul O’Sullivan - a known friend of President Cyril Ramaphosa and an enemy of former president Jacob Zuma. Mpofu suggested that the complaint appeared politically motivated, asking Nazo if he would consider it equally credible if it came from a concerned South African and a possible political rival. Nazo confirmed that his statement was accepted.",
  "summary": "Zuma-Sambudla appeared at the Durban High Court on Monday",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}